Water heating and storage system



H. D. STERICK WATER HEATING AND STORAGE SYSTEM Fil ed Jan. 12, 1955 INVENTOR I Patented Mar. 10, 1936 WATER HEATING AND STORAGE SYSTEM Harrison D. Sterick, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application January 12, 1933, Serial No. 651,301

2 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for heating and storing water of the type wherein a storage tank is utilized with a heater which, in the present case, is illustrated as of the so-called sidearm type.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide a water heating and storage system which shall be of simple construction and which shall be efficient and economical in the utilization of heat, at the same time providing for the production and delivery of a constant volume of heated water at maximum temperatures.

A further object of the invention is to provide a water heating and storage system which shall embody the features of the conventional form of water heating system where a tank of water is heated through the medium of a heating coil together with the feature of the so-called instantanecus water heater which may be effectively employed because of the preheated condition of the water passing through the heating coil when the heat supply is at its maximum.

The invention further contemplates the utilizationof an automatic control for regulating the heating medium in' accordance with the volume of water drawn for use.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the accompanying drawing constituting a part hereof in which like reference characters designate like parts and in which:

Figure 1 is a view diagrammatically illustrating a water heater embodying the principles of this invent-ion;

Figure 2 a cross-sectional elevational view showing a form of flow control and heater con trol mechanism; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines IIIIII of Figure 2rshowing afiow responsive device utilized in controlling the heating medium; and,

Figure 4 a side elevation of a modified form of fuel valve control.

With reference to the several figures of the drawing, the structure therein illustrated comprises a storage tank I supported on a pedestal 2 having an inlet pipe 3 extending a substantial distance to the bottom of the tank, the inlet being from a source of cold water supply through the top of tank I. Another connection, designated by the reference numeral 4, is made at the top of the tank and leads through a conduit 5 to the top of a heater coil 6 which coil is connected at the bottom by a short length of pipe I and a union 8 to a cross-member 9 which is more clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawing. The crossmember 9 is connected to the tank I near the bottom thereof to constitute a circulating path with the heating coil and top connection as shown in Figure 1.

Joined to the cross-piece 9 is a. short conduit I0 having a flow responsive device I I which actuates a valve regulating member I2 in the form of a rack for moving a. gear segment I3 that operates a gas valve generally designated at M for controlling the fuel supply to a burner I5. The flow responsive device II isconnected by a conduit I6 to a water supply or service line I! in which is shown a valve I 8.

With reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawing, the cross-member 9 is provided with a thread I9 by which it is fitted into the wall I of tank I, and a thread 20 at its other end for engagement with the union 8. Within the member 9 is disposed a tube 2| which is bent to be oif center with its connection at disc 22 with the member 9, or may be fittedas a straight tube in the upper portion of tube 9.

The vertical conduit ll] may be integrally formed with the member 9 or secured thereto as by welding at 23, and it is to be noted that the union 8 is provided with a radial inwardly depending flange 24 which forms a constriction in the path of flow of the water from the coil 6.

The flow control device II comprises a rectangular or round casing having a valve 25 hinged at Hand adapted to rest against an abutment 21, the hinge 26 being provided with a torsion spring 28, and also with a gear segment 29 having teeth for engagement with a sliding gear rack I2. The rack I2 is disposed through the casing I I and slides in a bearing 30 provided therein; the other end of the rack extends below thesgas valve I4 where it engages the teeth of the segment gear I3:that.is attached to actuate the stem of gas valve I4.

The operation of the above described device is briefly as follows: Normally when not in use, the burner I5 is designed to heat the water in coil 6, and when the valve I8 is closed the heated water will pass upwardly through the conduit 5 into the tank at the top thereof as indicated by the heavy arrows. The water entering the tank at the top will heat the water at the top of the tank to higher temperatures than the water at the bottom where the cold water enters through the supply line 3. The circulation of the water due to the heating of the same in coil 6, causes water to-be drawn from the tank through the bent tube 2|.

Water passes through the bent tube 2 I, thence through the constricted opening of flange 24 to the bottom of coil 6 from which, as explained above, it passes upwardly into the upper portion of the tank. In this respect, the apparatus functions as an ordinary water heating and storage system with the gas burner l5 regulated to heat the water at a desired rate depending upon the temperature it is desired to maintain, and the amount of hot water that the apparatus must deliver.

When water is drawn through the service line by opening valve l8, the flow of water is in the following manner: Heated water from the top of the tank I will be drawn through the connection 4 of conduit 5 in the coil 6 flowing in the reverse direction from that described and thence downwardly to the connection 9 entering through the constricted passage 24 and passing through the vertical connection In. As it flows downwardly, it will open the valve 25 causing segment 29 to actuate the rack l2 which, in turn, opens the gas valve M to a greater degree thereby increasing the fuel delivered to the gas burner l5 to effect super-heating of the water in the coil 6 before it passes to use. When the valve I8 is again closed, the spring tension of the torsion spring '28 will return valve 25 against its abutment 2'! thereby returning rack l2 to its normal position where the gas valve M will be maintained to deliver fuel at the desired rateto preheat the water in the storage tank I.

When the service valve I8 is opened, the water flowing through coil 6 into the connection 9 will flow around the bent tube 2| and will prevent the water flowing from the container I to the con-' nection 9 as is the case when circulation is set up by the heater with valve 8 closed. This stopping of the flow through theconnection 2| is effected by the force of water flowing through the constricted orifice 24 directly against the mouth or opening of tube 2| and around it, there being a space provided above the bent portion of the connection 2| as well as below to permit flow around the entire mouth or end of the member 2|.

Instead of utilizing the flow against the end of tube 2| to prevent fiow from the bottom of tank I when the service valve I8 is open, the arrangement shown in Fig. 4 may be employed which consists of the following: A lever 32 may be connected to the actuator l2, the lever abutting at 33 and having a connection through link 34 with an arm 35 of a valve 36 that shuts ofi" the flow from the tank through conduit 2| in response to flow through service line H.

It is evident from the foregoing description of this invention, that the apparatus therein described functions to normally preheat water and store it in the tank and subsequently subjects the heated water to an increased heating .tem-

perature whereby water of any desired temperature may be delivered to the service line. The flow and fuel regulating element employed may be readily attached to the conventional form of side-arm heater thereby converting it into a heater having the utility of both the ordinary water heating and storage system, and the advantages of the instantaneous heater without entailing the uneconomical consumption of fuel necessary in the conventional form of instantaneous heaters.

This equipment is particularly desirable for use where hot water is desired in relatively large volumes and is obviously desirable for all household applications. I

Although one embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the details of construction without departing from the principles herein set forth.

I claim:

1. A water heating and storage system, comprising a storage tank and a heating coil, a connection between the tank and the lower end of the heating coil comprising a T-shaped member having a tube disposed therein with one end of the tube opening into the tank and the mouth of the tube adjacent the coil, a bafile member disposed in the head of the T-shaped member in the path of flow of the water from the coil to the bottom of the tank and'in spaced relation with the mouth of the tube, and a flow connectionito a service line behind the mouth of said tube connected to the leg of the T-shaped member to cause the fluid flowing from the coil to impinge against-the mouth of the tube to prevent the flow of water from the bottom of the tank to the coil.

2. A water heating and storage system comprising a storage tank having a connection with a source of water supply, a heating coil connected at the top of the storage tank and having a bottom connection in the side of the tank at the lower portion of the tank, a burner disposed below said coil, and a constricted tube of relatively small diameter disposed in said bottom connection opening at one end into the tank and having its other end open and ofiset from the center of the main flow passage, a service connection in the bottom connection from the coil to the tank spaced between the open end of the small tube and the tank wall, whereby, when the service connection is closed, water will circulate from the tank through the bottom connection upwardly through the coil to the top of the tank and when open will flow in the reverse direction from the top of the tank downwardly through the coil to the service connection without permitting the flow of water from the tank through the constricted member.

HARRISON D. STERICK. 

